Overview:
In the final between Uganda U-20 and Ghana U-20, the fans will have a field day at office with endless energetic singing, drumming, whistling, wild chants and will surely perform the famous "Mexican wave" at the Accra Sports Stadium.
13th African Games (Football – Men):
- Finals: Uganda Vs Ghana (Friday, 22nd March 2024) – 8 PM (11 PM, East Africa)
- Third place: Congo Vs Senegal (Friday, 22nd March 2024) – 5 PM (8 PM, East Africa)
*Both games at Accra Sports Stadium, Accra city
For obvious reasons, the Accra Sports Stadium in the heart of Accra city in Ghana will be full to capacity on Friday evening as hosts Ghana (Black Satellites) take on Uganda (Hippos) in the men U-20 football final at the 13th African Games.
In a fortnight, there has been mouth-watering football action that has left only two countries to contest in the grand-finale for gold and silver.
Kawowo Sports’ David Isabirye has been stationed in West Lagon – Accra to follow the football championship as well as the rest of the games.
Here are the anticipated key battles that will definitely decide the tiding of the game and determine its final result.
Bruno Bunyaga (Uganda) Vs Saeed Yakubu (Ghana)
Uganda Hippos’ forward Bruno Bunyaga arrived to the occasion where it mattered most during the semi-final 4-2 win over Congo.
The dread-locked Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) player faces a stern test of character against Ghana’s goalkeeper Saeed Yakubu.
Bunyaga is as hard working as a queen bee in a busy bee-hive and will sweat off his shin as he tackles, pressurizes the opposition and perfects that primary role of holding up play.
Against Siano Football Club’s goalkeeper Yakubu, Bunyaga will need to replicate his A-game with accurate shooting and of-course putting the Ghana defence at bay.
Abasi Kyeyune (Uganda) Vs Nana Kwame Boakye (Ghana):
The second battle to watch out for will involve Abasi Kyeyune and Ghana’s intelligent defender Nana Kwame Boakye.
Kyeyune turns up for Sports Club Villa in the Star Times Uganda Premier League as Boakye plays for Berekum city in the Ghana Premier League.
Featuring as an inverted winger, the left footed Kyeyune will most likely pose provocations to Boakye whose game reading antics are unmatched.
The Ghanaian is also physical and intelligent. Therefore, this battle will be epic with fire-works.
Rogers Torach Ochaki (Uganda) Vs Aziz Musibau (Ghana):
Uganda’s Hippos’ captain Rogers Torach Ochaki is optimistic about winning the final and taking gold.
Torach is a natural leader on and off the field of play with exemplary acts. He faces the test of a life time to lead the Hippos to glory.
Along with his defensive partner Ronald Madoi, Torach will need the composure, accurancy and diligence to defend well for the entire duration of the game.
In particular, Torach will need to defend with perfection against Ghana’s forward-line led by Aziz Musibau.
The Still Believe forward is one of the five natural left footed players on the Ghana team that cane break down any defence line.
Therefore, Torach and company ought to be wary of Musibau’s threat alongside Abdul Sulemana, Jerry Afriyie, Emmanuel Agyei and Aziz Isaah Abdul.
Allan Oyirwoth (Uganda) Vs Abdul Aziz Issah (Ghana):
Time immemorial, football contests have been decided by the outstanding midfield department.
Uganda U-20 against Ghana U-20 final will not be different. Allan Oyirwoth (Uganda) is the diamond stone in Uganda’s midfield, as Abdul Azizi Issah is to Ghana as he puts on the respectable shirt 10.
The two players are very hard-working, short as well as long ball passers, tacklers and leaders on the field of play.
Oyirwoth currently turns up at Brookside College Academy in the United Kingdom and has formed an enviable partnership with SFK Pierikos’ Ivan Irinimbabazi in the middle of the pack.
Issah affiliates to Dream Football Club, an entity that nurtured as many players as possible.
Whoever commands the middle of the pack of the two will definitely decide the match tiding and final out-come at the end of the day.
Arafat Kizza Usama (Uganda) Vs McCarthy Ofori (Ghana):
Arafat Kizza Usama (Uganda) and Ghana’s captain McCarthy Ofori face off in another exciting duel.
KCCA’s Usama is that sweet-left footed player who skids up tackles, passes and shoots easily when he wishes to.
Usama dons the treasured shirt 10 and will take on Ghana’s captain Ofori who turns up for the famous Dreams Football Club.
He set the tone and the ball rolling by netting Uganda’s first goal of the tournament against Nigeria and has remained consistent with fine display.
Another A-game against Ofori and the rest of the Ghana team will propel Uganda to the desired dream-land.
Harunah Lukwago (Uganda) Vs Abdul Sulemana (Ghana):
Harunah Lukwago is another player for team Uganda from KCCA Football Club. The roving right back limped out of the Senegal duel (replaced by Apollo Kagogwe) and missed the match against South Sudan.
He only returned against the Congolese in the semi-final and was solid defensively as he made a couple of odd moves upfront.
Against Ghana, Lukwago will face a tricky player in Abdul Sulemana who turns for Lyon in France.
Sulemana is not only fast paced, but also is blessed with an arrary of skills.
Abdul Magada (Uganda) Vs Jerry Afriyie (Ghana)
Goalkeepers decide matches. Uganda’s Abdul Magada is expected to command the starting berth ahead of Shamulan Kamya who collapsed in the last game during the semi-final.
Command, quick reflexes, one-on-one stops and good game reading should all be ticked for Magada if he is to tame Thought Football Club’s forward Jerry Afriyie.
Afriyie has got that sense for goals given his expectional positional awareness, work ethic and shooting abilities.
Therefore Magada should be alert at all times to thwart any threat towards his goal including the aerial threats.
Patrick Jonah Kakande (Uganda) Vs Remember Boateng (Ghana)
Sports Club Villa’s Patrick Jonah Kakande has lured as many fans given his start-stop approach of play, dribbling artistry and low center of gravity due to his diminutive stature.
Kakande comes under close scrutiny against Accra Lions’ composing defender Remember Boateng.
Boateng is solid physically and a good game reader. Against a swift player in Kakande, this battle will keep fans off their seats throughout the 90 minutes.
Morley Byekwaso (Uganda) Vs Desmond Sakyi Ofei (Ghana):
80% of modern football matches are won by the technical and tactical expertise of the respective benches.
The coaches combine effort to plan, discuss tactics, lay strategies, assemble players and come up with the best line ups for the day.
During action, instructions and guidelines are still passed onto the players. Changes that come along as the match progresses also cost a great deal.
Morley Byekwaso (Uganda) and Ghana’s Desmond Sakyi Ofei are the key actors in the respective dockets to make important decisions prior to and during the game proper.
These two head coaches are entirely responsible in the mental preparation of their players, physical abilities, ticking the right boxes for the winning line ups, spot on strategies (tactics) and the right substitutions (if need be).
Of course, there will be other challenges and silent battles on the field of play at either flanks, in defence, central midfield and forward lines.
Off the field, Ghana will definitely dominate the stands with hundreds of supporters expected to enter the Accra Sports as early as the early bronze medal match between Congo and Senegal.
The fans will have a field day at office with endless energetic singing, drumming, whistling, wild chants and will surely perform the famous “Mexican wave”.
May the better country carry the night.
Uganda Hippos’ road to finals at 2023 African Games:
- Uganda 2-1 Nigeria (Group Stage)
- Uganda 1-0 Senegal (Group Stage)
- Uganda 1-0 South Sudan (Group Stage)
- Uganda 4-2 Congo (Semi-final)
Ghana Satellites’ road to finals at 2023 African Games:
- Ghana 0-0 Congo (Group stage)
- Ghana 3-1 The Gambia (Group stage)
- Ghana 1-0 Benin (Group stage)
- Ghana 1-0 Senegal (Semi-final)
Aaron Essel has been the most consistent player in the team and you don’t mention him … hmmm who dey pay you to write this article about their players?